Paul Gallen may have only just retired from rugby league but he is keeping busy, stepping back into the boxing ring next Friday night. The former Cronulla Sharks captain will fight Barry Hall at Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne in what is being billed as the biggest ever cross-code fight. Gallen has fought regularly since making his boxing debut in 2014. There has been some controversy around the fight, with Gallen labeling Hall "embarrassing" for refusing to fight three-minute rounds. The bout will consist of two-minute rounds. While he called time on his 349-game NRL career with Cronulla at the end of the Sharks' season, the 38-year-old has had nine fights in the last six years for nine victories - five by knock out. His last fight was a second-round knock out of former league player John Hopoate at the Hordern Pavilion in February. Hall has a background in boxing, contesting 15 fights by the age of 15 including winning a state title. Former boxing champion Danny Green has worked behind the scenes to put the fight together, with the bout to be the first professional bout for 42-year-old Hall who retired from the AFL at the end of 2011 after playing with St Kilda, Sydney and the Western Bulldogs.

Paul Gallen to step back into boxing ring to fight Barry Hall

Paul Gallen may have only just retired from rugby league but he is keeping busy, stepping back into the boxing ring next Friday night.

The former Cronulla Sharks captain will fight Barry Hall at Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne in what is being billed as the biggest ever cross-code fight.

Gallen has fought regularly since making his boxing debut in 2014.

Picture: Chris Lane

There has been some controversy around the fight, with Gallen labeling Hall "embarrassing" for refusing to fight three-minute rounds. The bout will consist of two-minute rounds.

While he called time on his 349-game NRL career with Cronulla at the end of the Sharks' season, the 38-year-old has had nine fights in the last six years for nine victories - five by knock out.

His last fight was a second-round knock out of former league player John Hopoate at the Hordern Pavilion in February.

Picture: Main Event

Hall has a background in boxing, contesting 15 fights by the age of 15 including winning a state title.

Former boxing champion Danny Green has worked behind the scenes to put the fight together, with the bout to be the first professional bout for 42-year-old Hall who retired from the AFL at the end of 2011 after playing with St Kilda, Sydney and the Western Bulldogs.